Speed reducer



Oct. 3. 1933. ||l ENARD 1,929,058

SPEED REDUCER Y Filed Marone, '19:55

the lever-controlling spring.

Patented Oct. 3, 17933 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE SPEEDREDUCER Y Hans Emmi, Elizabeth, N. J. Application Mai-h 6, 1933. serial No. '659,171

` 1o claims. (o1. 'J4-'54) My invention consists of an improvement in speed reducers for the purpose of transmitting motion from a high speed drive shaft to a low l speed driven or power transmitting shaft. involves an'annular rack of the ratchet tooth type, a disk or disks connected with the driven shaft, a series of actuating levers Voperably en'- gaging the rack and one or both of said'disks, and a lever-actuating element operated ,by Athe drive shaft adapted to successively effect rack engagement by the levers for continuous slow motion transmission to the driven shaft disk.

One preferred construction ofthe invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical sect-ionthrough the device on the line I-I 'of Fig. 2; l l

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail View in perspective showing In constructing the device for use as a xedl unit, an annular rack member `2 is provided with a series of inner annularv ratchet teeth 3 and v with means for xedly mounting `on a supporting 25 base or frame, as by integral anges 4, for' bolt connection, as` in Fig. 1. For convenient mounting of the working parts an outer casing consisting of embracing sides 5, 5,` is clamped to opposite sides of annular'rack member 2 byV bolts 6 and provided withhubs '7 forming,A with bushings 8, journal bearings for theLrota'ting hollow hubs of a drivenV disk or head if)Y andits'ompaniondisk or head 10.V Disk 9 is provided 'with a centrally extending Vdriven shaft ll'preferably lintegral' with the disk throughaj concentricallyhollfow hub` 1,2. Disk 10 isgspatcedv from disk9, by intervening movement-imparting bearing members 13 xedly held between the disks'. by 'connecting bolts 14, disk 10" acting as a balancingrmember and having a hub 15 journalledlike hub 12 in journal bushing 8 at the Vopposite side. `4 f The actuating elements for transmitting movement to the driven shaft 11` are a series ofr pawlf-r like levers 16a, 16h, 16c and 16d each having a tooth-engaging terminal t adapted to move over and then intert with and engage Y one of the ratchet teeth 3 successively throughout the series of levers, `as eachlever is successively actuated."

For such purpose the inner end 17fof each lever 16 extends inwardly towards and isin operative engagement with the periphery of a non-'g rotating floating ring 18 adapted to be actuated in an eccentric path by'rotation of an eccentric 19 of driving'shaft 20; Y 1 ,I

As hereinafter described, lever terminal 17 is between the ring and the lever. It

is curved or flexed, and constantly tends toA hold continuously held against the-periphery of ring 18 by action of spring28, preferably intervening The 4driving shaft 20 is preferably journalled at each side of the eccentric between annular series. of roller bearings 21 engaging bushings 22 seated within each hub 12 and 15, asin Fig. 2. Between 'the eccentric 19 and floating ring 18 is a similar annular series of roller bearings 23, all of said roller bearing series being annularly 55 mounted in the usual `retaining and spacing rings 24. Between each lever 16 and its adjacent abutment 13 is interposed a fulcrum-providing thrust pin, link or plate 25, engaging by its rounded terminals socket 26 of lever 16-and a similar socket 27` of the abutment 13, with sufficient play Yto permit of slight accompanying lateral movement. Each lever 16 is provided with a spring t 28, of springsteel leaf form, secured by a screw or other suitable means 29 to the face of the ring 18, and engaging the inner face of the lever arm 1'7 by a similar screw or stud 30.

Spring 28, when applied in the manner shown,

the arm 17 inwardly against the ring 18,'with the spring intervening, so as to insure positive actionof the eccentrically actuated ring without lost motion;

As thus rconstructed the outer terminal of the lever 16, when in engagement with the shouldered end of one of theratchet. teeth 3, constitutes the fulcrum of the lever, the weight or power being applied through stud 25 against abutment 13, as the oating ring 18 moves out'- wardly' against the normally retracted lever. The effect of such operation is to impart a slight rotative movement to such Yparticular abutment and tothe disks 9 and -10, with corresponding rotation by disks 9 and 10 to driven shaft 11. 95

It will bejobserved'that throughout the series of ratchet teeth 3 but one lever is in actual operative engagement with one ofthe teeth, the several other lever terminals'being in graduated contact or spacedrelation thereto, throughout the series. p i

Thus,]aslthe`floating ring 18 is caused tomove outwardly around and in conformity withthe` movement of` eccentric 19, each of said levers, onevafter'the other, is -brought successively into 105 contact and is operatively impelled for a fraction of a tooth space,such movement comprising in its entirety a complete one tooth space movement .of disks 9 and lqfor eachrotation of',

the driving shaftizo. Y 11o wiE The number of teeth 3 in the annular series is preferably or purposely one tooth less in number than any arbitrary number equally divisible by the number of ratchet levers 16. Thus in the construction shown there are provided fortythree teeth.

In adapting the invention to larger or smaller diameters, the total number of teeth is one less than anynumber divisible by a common divisor equalling the number of pawl levers.

By such arrangement equal spacing of the abutments and their actuating levers and link' connections around the driven disk is most conv y 'very compact in construction, and prov1des a direct-acting speed reducer available for connecveniently adopted, the number of ratchet teeth thus preferably selected always providing fory proper successive engagement by the-lever terminals, successively. In operation the Adisks 9 and 10 rotate in the samdirect'ion'as thatV of driving shaft 20, or as shown in aclockwise direction.

Thuis, assuming the terminalA t of lever 16h has moved the driven disk-9 inthe direction .of arrow'a by thrust or fulcrumengagementagainst theytooth end, and Vhas been retracted, as at w, sav for one 'quarter of the length of the tooth, suchy movement'will have been effected initially by outward movementofring 18, followed Vby spring retraction.- Y Then the terminal of the next following lever 16o will have been advanced correspondingly, at ata, by spring re traction towards the receding ring 18 and will be inserted in due course behindv its adjacent tooth 3 for operation-thereagainstupon outward movement ofthe eccentrieally actuated ring 18,

" thedisks 9, 10, being vshifted proportionately by the engaging lever 16a, as'at The next .following leverterminal will have also advanced correspondingly bysuch successive movement-'of thedisk tothe position y, and will blalnv toothk engagingposition upon completion of the movement of--active lever 16a.

ndthenal stenat;the.wflocatiornL as shown, lever lsb-is. on theghighestpomt or at the outermostposition of eccentric A19 and is already about oneeighth of Va tooth space revolu- V5 tionpast vthe end of its-preceding actual working stroke of onefquarterz'tooth-space, and is receding from tooth' engagement.y

.At such :time lever 16.11;; isnt the :.middle. ,its working stroke, having already shifted the disks abOlltfD-.ighthof a-toothspace.- The next active lever 16d isfmoving towards and will bein tooth engagement upon completion ofv the vref maiaderfotthestroke @lever-16a.; .1 other wordajassuming: previous movement enacted, bvliever:V 16a 4 at-the .r location is succeeded by the following lever actionI at the/y 1er/ation, the .disks carrying.. all -ofrthe levers will be successively f continuouslyv rotated toiA 'the extentof one entire ratchet-tooth-,iricluding advancing movement of;v lever 6c at theraf` location,4

" nular movement of its` eccentricallyactuated floating `ring 18.

anni be understood also tnan'thfeprh bathe.'

teeth-is rela-tvefand `properly proportioned Ato q the eccentricity of. the. imparting movement, and

' thatlthe pawllterminals, t shallbe properly.

signed foroperative engagement. ,A

The construction and operation ofthe invention .will be readilyl understoodA frcmf the, forego.'

ingdescriptmn. Assummgataa;efifgnygtpree teeth, i. e., 4 11-l, each rotation of driving shaft 20 will rotate the driven shaft 11 l//l3 of a revolution, or one complete revolution for each forty-three revolutions of the driving shaft. It will be understood of course that the extent or degree of reduction may be varied within wide limits by increase or decrease of the diameter of the ratchet tooth ring 2, with corresponding increase or decrease, if desirable and Within the available space, of the several sets of operating lever mechanisms.

The device is comparatively simple, cheap to manufacture, not liable to get out of order, and

tionandA application in any of the various uses to which such devices are put.

Whatfl .claim is:

1. n speed reducer comprising an outer stationary ring provided with an inner annular series of ratchet teeth, a disk rotatably mounted within said ring having a power imparting extension, a series of'integral teeth-engaging levers fulcrumed onthe disk and'having pawlterminals adapted to successively engage the ratchet teeth,

a floating ring engaging the levers, a springV each lever connecting the lever with Athe floating ring, and'adrive shaft havingk an eccentric within theV floating ring for imparting movement thereto."

AZIA speed reducer comprising an outer stationary ring provided with an inner annular series of'ratchet teeth, a disk rotatably mounted within' saidring having a power imparting extension,'a series of integral teeth-engaging levers eacliha'ving a' movable fulcrurn member operatively engaging the disk and.a`pawlterminal adaptedto'succes'sively engage the ratchet teeth, a floating ring'. engaging the levers, a spring for each lever connecting the lever with the iloating ring, and a drive shaft having an eccentric within the floating -ringV for imparting movement theretoupon rotation of the shaft.

t 3. Ina speed reducer, the combination of an outer casing having an inner series of annular ratchet teethy'a' power transmitting shaft concentrically 'journalled in the vcasing having a head'a seriesof integral"leversfulcrumed on the head for inward. and outwardY swinging movement having v outer terminals adaptedy to successilvelyiengage vthe ratchet teeth `Vand provided with inner swinging terminals, a central drive shaft having eccentric', 'and'a' rfloating ring 'sur`-. rounding ,the eccentric in operative engagement with'theinner terminalsof the levers.

.4. .Ina speedreducer, the' 'combination ofran ratchet teeth, apower` transmitting shaft concentrically'journalled inVA the casing having 'a head',

tween and' secured tothe floating ring. and'feach 'l lever. Y

5. In a speedireducer, the combination. of an outer casing having 'an inner series of annular ratchet teeth, a power transmitting shaft concentrically journ'alled in the casing having a head, 'l

a series of integral levers fulcrumed on'the head having .ratchet 'teeth-'engaging terminals, a. cendrive shaft vjournalled'.[inthe casing. and in the head ofthe power transmittingshaft respectively having. eccentric, a. oating' ring surrounding the eccentric 1n operative relation to the levers, and a leaf spring between the floating ring and the levers for each lever connecting the lever with the floating ring and holding each lever in close operative relation to the ring.

6. In a speed reducer, the combination of an outer casing having an inner series of annular ratchet teeth, a power transmitting shaft concentrically journalled in the casing having a head, a companion head spaced therefrom and oppositely journalled in the casing, a series of integral levers fulcrumed between the heads each having a terminal adapted to successively engage the ratchet teeth, a central drive shaft extending through the companion head having an eccentric, a floating ring surrounding the eccentric and in operative engagement with the levers, and a leaf spring between the ring and each lever secured to each member and holding each lever in close operative relation to the ring.

7. In a speed reducer, the combination of an outer casing having an inner series of annular ratchet teeth, a power transmitting shaft con- `centrically journalled in the casing having a 8. In a speed reducer, the combination of an outer casing having a middle portion provided with an inner series of annular ratchet teeth, a

-pair of spaced apart heads journalled in the casing, one having a power imparting shaft, fulcrum bearings between the disks, integral ratchetteeth-engaging levers, laterally swinging fulcrum members therefor engaging the bearings, a central drive shaft having an eccentric, and a floating ring surrounding the eccentric in operative relation to the several levers.

9. In a speed reducer, the combination of an outer casing having a middle portion provided with an inner series of annular ratchet teeth, a pair of spaced apart heads journalled in the casing, one having a power imparting shaft, fulcrum bearings between the disks, integral ratchetteeth-engaging levers, fulcrum members therefor engaging the bearings, a central drive shaft having an eccentric, a vfloating ring surrounding the eccentric in operative relation to the several levers, and a leaf spring between the ring and each lever connecting each lever with the floating ring.

l0. In speed reducer construction, the combination with an outer stationary annular ratchet tooth member and a central rotatable eccentric,

of a floating ring surrounding the eccentric, a

driven shaft having a head, a series of ratchet teeth levers pivoted on the head having operating arms around the ring in operative relation j. f

thereto, and-a retracting leaf spring connecting each lever to the ring and having fixed connection with said members.

' HANS ENARD. 

